Apparatus for excavating tunnels



Aug. 12 1924. 1,505,060

LE ROY A. QUAYLE AFPARATUS FOR EXCAVATING TUNNELS md Feb. ze. 1920 5 sheets-sheet 1 w 2 0., t 5 o h 5, 1. k. .n S 3 S5 L E N N EN LG@ YNQ Anl una. QAZ .m AEfw YRF Omd R e Ewa LMF R A P P A Aug. l2 1924.

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Aug. 12 1924.

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LE RoY A. QUAYLE APPARATUS FOR EXCMATING TUNELS Filed Feb. 26. 1920' 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Aug, l2 1924.

LE ROY A. QUAYLE APPARATUS FOR EXCAVATING TUNNELS Filed 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 LE Eer a. @Ua-YLE, or CLEVELAND, omo, As'sreNoE or ONE-HALE fro @Ec-EGE E. none, or CLEVELAND, onro.

.APPARATUS FOR EXCAVATING TUNNELS.

Application filed February 26, 192. Serial No. 361,578.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, LE ROY A. QUAYLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga. and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful mprovement in Apparatus for Excavating Tunnels, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The aims of this invention are to provide an improved and simplified method of eX- cavating subterranean passageways or tunnels, together with apparatus for carrying the method into effect and for lining the tunnel as the digging progresses, the whole effecting a great saving oftinie and labor over prior modes of operation, and ,consequently materially cheapening tunnel con-l at right angles to the plane of Fig. 5; Figs.

struction. n

Another object is to provide apparatusv of the aforesaid character comprised of several units coupled together and cooperating in the attainment of the aims above set forth. Broadly, the apparatus consists of a cutting or borrowing element which defines the size and shape of the tunnel and which is preferably equipped with propelling vmeans for forcing it through lthe earth; an erector mechanism preferably carried by the cutting element, for placing the lining blocks; a drag platform for the accommodation of the workman and materials; anda drag track tol which sections may be added as the work .advances and on which cars operateto carry materials into the tunnel and convey the dirt therefrom.

The present most highly 'approved type of tunnel lining blocks or segments areof concrete o-r cement and interlock with each other in such manner as to require the blocks to be moved longitudinally of the tunnel after 'they have been properly positioned circumferentially and radially thereof. It is a further object of my invention, therefore, to provide an erector for placing the block which is capable of moving angularly, radially and longitudinally of the tunnel and which is particularly convenient of operation and positive and accurate of control. A still further object is to incorporate, in the erector, power actuated tongs for rgrappling the blocks enabling the tongs to -be operated from a remote point and insuring a positive hold on the blocks.

Other objects will appear as this description proceeds, and all are attained through the method herein disclosed and the apparatus illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming a part hereof and wherein Fig. l is a section longitudinally of a tunnel in the process of construction, and including my improved apparatus in sectional side elevation; Figs. 2 and 3 are transverse sections on the line -a of Fig. l, looking to the right and left, respectively, as indicated by the correspondingly numbered arrows associated with the section line; Fig. l is a sectionalI plan taken substantially on the line 4.-4 of Fig. l; Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional detail through the erector, its carriage, and the shield platform whereby it is supported; Fig. 6 is a further enlarged sectional view of the tongs, the same being taken 7 and 8 are perspective views at dilierent angles of one of the lining blocks or segments; and Fig. 9 is a diagrannnatic sectional representation of a tunnel constructed in accordance with my improved method.

The units whereof my improved apparatus is composed are designated, generally, as follows: A is the cutting or burrowing element, hereinafter referred to as the shield; B is the erecto-r; C the drag platform; and D the drag track.

The shield A is made up of an outer cylindrical shell 1 and an inner and shorter cylindrical shell 2, connected together at the forward endof the inner shell by a bulk- 'head 3, and at the rear end of the inner shell by a bulk-head A. Suitable strengthening ribs or brackets 5 are disposed about the forward end of the shield and occupy the angle between the front or cutting edge of the shell l and t-he inset vforward end of the shell 2. A suitable number of hydraulic acks T are situated atequal distances apart about the circumference of the shell and between the bulk-'heads 3 and A; and the piston rods 8 of these jacks extend rearwardly beyond the bulk-head l and are provided with heads 9 arranged to bear upon a suitable abutment so that when the jacks 7 are energized by the introduction of pressure fluid into the forward ends of their cylinders and the piston rods thereby project, the shield will be advanced into theearth. As will be seen presently when discussing the method of operation, the lining blocks or segments serve als CII Y UU

-carriage 16.

the abutment for the hydraulic jacks after the lining of the tunnel is started. Prior to that, temporary abutments may be provided for the initial operation of the shield.

A horizontal stage is supported at about the vertical center of the shield by a structural frame incorporating the beams and braces 11, 12 and 13. This structure also includes opposed channels 15 which form rails wit-hin which a carriage, designated generally by' thereference numeral 16, is guided, the carriage being equipped with rollers 17 and 18 for cooperation with the rails 15 (see Fig. lt will be understood that a suitable number of the rollers 17 are employed to properly support the carriage, while the rollers 18 are utilized in proper number to take the side thrust of the carriage and prevent binding. Journaled within bearings 2O (Fig. 5) supported by the carriage 16 is a shaft 21 upon the forward end of which is mounted a boss 22 of a tubular member that constitutes a part of the ercctor cylinder. the latter being completed by a cylindrical shell that has one of its ends fitted into an enlargement of the bore ofthe member 23. A. head 26 closes the opposite end of the shell or cylinder 25. A piston 28 operates within this cylinder and its rod 29 is guided in the reduced portion of the bore of the member 23. A suitable packing` gland 30 prevents leal:- age about tho piston rod. By means of a suitable arrangement of pipes 35, and the manipulation of a 'valve 36 included therein, pressure fluid may be directed to either end of the cylinder and simultaneously eX- haustcd from the other. It will be understood that the shaft 21, with the parts carried thereby as just described, are capable of rotation with respect to the carriage 16: and to this end pressure fluid is directed to the parts of the cylinder through passageways BSeXtending longitudinally through the shaft 21 and communicating, through a swivel connection 39 and a flexible conduit 40, with a source of supply. A gear -l5 is mounted upon the boss 22 of member 23 and Vis fixed with respect thereto by vhaving a part 46 bolted or otherwise secured to a bracket 47 of said member 23. The gear l5 rotated by aV pinion t8 to which power is transmitted through suitable geanng 49 from a motor 50 (see Fig 4). The Vgear l5 and pinion 118 enclose within a suitable casing while the gearing 49 is encased within a housing` 56. lt' will be understood that the motor 50, gearing 19, etc., are mounted upon the carriage 16. A hydraulic cylinder (Figs. 1E l and is mounted upon the stage 10, and its piston rod has connection. through a bracket 61, with the Consequently, when pressure iiuid is admitted to the forward or right hand end of the cylinder 58 (as it is viewed in the above mentioned figures) the pistonV the erector is connected the tongs for grappling the lining blocks or segments 65, 'the blocks having on their inner curved sides recesses 66 for the reception of thel jaws 63 and 69 of the tongs. The tongs constructed of side plates 70 (Figs. 2j 5 and 6) that are bolted 0r otherwise secured to they flattened sides 71 of the piston rod 29. Pivoted upon a pin 72 that is supported by and between the plates 70 at one end is the lower end of the jaw The jaw 69 is pivoted intermediate its ends upon a pin '7 that is supported by and between the side plates 70 at appoint diagonally opposite the pin 72. A hydraulic cylinder 75 is support-ed by brackets 7 6 and 77 from 'the Yside plates TO and its piston rod 78 has conncc4 tion through a clevis 79 with the inner end of the liaw 69. A point on jaw 69 intermediate its pivotal support and its connection with the clevis 79 is connected through links 8O with the jaw 68 at a point between the latters pivoted support and its free end7 the links 80 being outside the plates 70 and having connection with the jaws through slots 81 in the plates. lt will be seen from this construction that. when pressure fluid is admitted to the forward end of the cylinder 75 (the left hand end as view t. in Fig, 6), it will retract the `piston rod 78 and swing the free ends of the 68 and toward each other. This results in tongs graslriing the block when the 'iaws inserted into the recesses 66. The blocks are released by exhausting the present end of the cylinder and atl-.mitting pressure fluid to the opposite end. rlhe erector cylinder counterbalanced by suitable weight 62 that is applied to its end opposite the tongs.

rEhe pipe lines., valves, and connections for directing and controlling the passage of pressure fluid from a suitable source to the rhydraulic jacks 7 and cylinders and 75 have been omitted from the drawings their arrangement would vary according to the varying conditions met in practice and would be obvious to the average skilled workman. J

The drag platform C is mounted upon suitable skids't that ride upon cross-ties S6 arranged along the bottom of the lined tunnel. the. platforn having connect-ion through draw-bars 87 with the shield A.

rlhe platform supports a framework 89 incorporating a track 90 for a trolley 91, the track being formed of opposed inwardly facing channels 92 (Fig. 3) while the trolley 91. has rollers 93 on its opposite sides which traverse the bottom flanges of the channels. A chain hoist 94 of suitable type is suspended from the forward end of 'the trolley 91 for lifting the blocks from the platform, or from cars upon the platform, and depositing them forwardly of the platform where they may be picked up by the erector B. Scaffolds 95 are supported by the framework 89 at suitable elevations to enable the workmen when standing thereon to reach the overhead kparts of the 'tunnel as4 when grouting the Cracks between the lining blocks. The rails 97 of the drag tracks D have connection at 98 with the rear end of the platform C so that as the platform is drawn forwardly with the shield the tracks are advanced also. The tracks are sectional so that each may be increased in length by the addition of sections as the work progresses.

Suitable cars operate-on the tracks D for carrying blocks and other materials into the tunnel and for removing the dirt therefrom. The cars may be drawn from the tracks directly onto the platform and switched from track to track as occasion requires.

The method of construction will now be described by reference to Fig. 9. It will be assumed that the tunnel to be constructed is to extend beneath a river bed. A` shaft 100 is sunk on one side of the river to the proposed depth of the tunnel. A shield A is then lowered by suitable hoisting mechanism to the bottoni of the shaft, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 9.l A temporary abutment 101 is constructed on the side of the shaft opposite that from which the tunnel is to extend. 4 Connections are then made for supplying pressure fluid to the hydraulic jacks 7 which constitute a part of the shield structure, and the jacks are energized to force the shield forwardly and initiate the tunnel cut. The earth in the f forward end of the shield is then skiv'ed off to the plane of the forward end of the shield and removed. Lining blocks are arranged to the rear of the shield to form a purchase for the acks and as a start toward liningthe tunnel. The acks are again energized and the shield further advanced, after which the foregoing operations are repeated. This continues until the shield is advanced sufficiently far to accommodate to the rear of it the platform C. The platform is then lowered into the shaft and connected to the shield and the work progresses, adding the drag track, section by sect-ion, as required. The shield may be driven forwardly through the earth until it enters the lower end of a shaft 102 that has been sunk on the opposite side of the river where the tunnel is to terminate. When the shield is fully within the second shaft it may be hoisted therefrom.v by means of suitable apparatus, as may also the platform and otherI parts of the equipment. During the digging of the tunnel, workmen, standing on the stage 10 and in the lower part of the shield, skive off .the earth at! the forward end of the shield and pass it backward to the platform C where it is loaded into the Y cars 103 and carried from the tunnel. Upon the return, the cars deliver blocks or segments to the platform and the workmen by means of the trolley 91 and hoist 94 arrange the blocks in convenient reach of the erector tongs. The erector is turned about by means of the motor until the tongs are in a position to grasp a block. The piston is then projected until the jaws of the tongs occupy the recesses 66. The hydraulic cylinder 7 5 is then energized to close the jaws and the piston rod of the erector is retracted sufficiently to clear the block from the bottom of the tunnel. The erector cylinder is again swung about until the block occupies the proper angular position with respect to the t-unnel, after which the piston rod of the erector is projected to bring the block into its proper Iposition radially of the tunnel or until it is in the planeI of the other blocks of the liner. When in proper position, with its tongs a in register with the sockets 65h of the adjacent blocks, the cylinder 58 is energized to advance the erector carriage and move the block longitudinally of the tunnel until it occupies a position yin alignment with the other blocks of its course. Thus -it will be seen that three separate and distinct movements of the erecto-r are necessary in placing the blocks, toi-wit: a movement angularly of the tunnel which is accomplished by the rotation of they erector; a movement radially of the tunnel which is accomplished by projecting the pistol rod of the erector; and a movement lonoitudinally of the tunnel which is accomplisied by the movement of the erector carriage. I

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In tunnel constructing apparatus, the combination of a shield, propelling means incorporated in the shield, an erector carried by the shield, a drag platform coupled to the shield, and a drag track coupled to the platform.

2. In` tunnel constructing apparatus, the combination of a shield, an erector carried by the shield, means for moving said erector longitudinally of the shield, a platform connected to the shield, block handling means carried by the platform, means whereby said block handling means may be moved longitudinally of the platform, and means for advancing the shield and platform.

3. In tunnel constructing apparatus, the combination of a shield; propelling means incorporated in the shield, an erector carried by the shield, vneans for moving` said erector longitudinally of said shield, a dragplatform coupled to the shield, block handling means carried by the platform, and means whereby said block iandling means may be moved longitudinally of the platform.

Il. In tunnel constructing` apparatus, the combination of a shield, means for advancing the shield, anV erector carried by the shield, means for moving said erector longitudinally of said shield, a drag platform coupled to the shield, block handling means 4carried'by said platform, and means Where by said block handling means may be moved longitudinally of the platform.

5. In tunnel constructing apparatus, the combination of a shield,rmeans for advanc ing the shield, erector mechanism carried by and disposed at the rear of the shield, a platform connected to the shield and dis* posed to the rear of the erector mechanism, a trolley supported by the platform, means whereby saidtrolley may be moved toward and from the Yerector mechanism, and block handling means carried by the platform.

6. Intunnel constructing apparatus, the combination of a shield, means for advancing the shield, an erector arried by the shield, means for moving said erector angularly, radially, and longitudinally with respect to said shield.

7. .In tunnel constructing apparatus, the

combination of a shield, aV carriage supported Within the shield,'means for moving said carriage longitudinally of said shield, and an extensible erect-or rotatably supported by the carriage and incorporating means for grappling tunnel lining blocks.

8. In tunnelconstructing apparatus, the combination of a shield, a supporting structure carried by the shield, a carriage mounted on the structure, means for movingY said carriage longitudinally of the shield, and an extensible erector rotatably supported'by' the carriage and incorporatingl means `for grappling tunnel lining blocks.

9. In tunnelconstructing apparatus, the Vcombination of vaV shield, a supporting structure carried by the shield, a carriage supported by the structure for movement longitudinally of the shield, means for recipro eating the carriage with respect to the shield, an extensible crector supported by the carriage for rotation in a plane trans verse the axis of the tunnel, and means for rotating the erector.

l0. In tunnel constructing apparatus, the combination of a shield, a supporting struc ture, carried by the shield, u carriage supported by the structm'c, means for moving said carriage longitudinally of the shield and including a pressure fluid cylinder anl its piston connected one to the carriage and the other to the structure, an extensible erector supported by the carriage for ro tation in a plane transverse the tunnel, means for rotating the ercctor, and means carried by the ereetor for handling' tunnel lining blocks.

il. In tunnel constructing apparatus, the combination of a shield, a supporting struc ture carried by the shield, a carriage sup ported by the structure` means for movingsaid carriage longitudinally of the shield and including a pressure fluid cylinder and its piston connected one to the carriage :und the other to the structure, an extensible crector supported by the carriage for rota tion in :i plane transverse the tunnel, means for rotating the erector, tongs carried by the Verector for handling tunnel lining blocks, and pressure fluid means for actuating the tongs.

l2. ln tunnel constructing apparatus, the combination of a shield, a supporting struc ture carried by the shield, a carriage support ed by the structure, means for moving said carriage longitudinally of the shield, a shaft sustained by the carriage substantially co incident' with the longitudinal axis o1 the shield, a pressure fluid cylint'ler fixed to the shaft with its longitudinal axis extending transversely of the shield, a piston within the cylinder the rod whereof is equipped with bloclr grappling means, mechanism supported by the carriage for rotating the shaft, pressure fluid conducting means leading to Ythe cylinder through said shaft, and means for reciprocating the carriage.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto allix my signature.

LE ROY A. QUAYLlC.

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